Keyvan Samimi in Dire Physical Condition After 20 Days on Hunger Strike

Saturday 14th, August 2010 – The political prisoners previously on hungerstrike have repeatedly asked Keyvan Samimi to end his hunger strike, however, he insists that he will continue in honor of his imprisoned children and until they are transferred from solitary confinement to the general ward at Evin. Keyvan Samimi, incarcerated journalist is in dire physical condition. According to reports received by Kaleme, Samimi now on his 20th day of hunger strike is in high spirits despite his deteriorating health. With the arrival of Ramadan, concerns over his health have increased since water and tea are only served at Iftar and Sahar (evening and dawn when the fast is broken).

Samimi and 16 other political prisoners at Evin were transferred to solitary confinement three weeks ago as a result of protesting against unacceptable prison conditions, inappropriate behavior by prison guards, and in particular false promises by Sedaghat the head of Evin. After being transferred to solitary confinement, they began a hunger strike that lasted two weeks. 15 ofthe political prisoners ended their hunger strike after 15 days upon receiving numerous messages from individuals, in particular from important figures in the Green movement such as Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. Samimi however, announcedat that time that he was not going to end his hunger strike until his colleagues were transferred from solitary confinement to Evin’s general ward.

Even though the political prisoners previously on hunger strike have repeatedly asked Keyvan Samimi to end his hunger strike, however, he insists that he will continue in honor of his imprisoned children and until they are transferred from solitary confinement to the general ward at Evin. Samimi’s family isextremely concerned about his well being and have demanded that all Judicial authorities, particularly Tehran prosecutor address his situation immediately.

Keyvan Samimi is 62 years old and has been sentenced to 6 years in prison.